I'm sure you've heard the phrase,
you talk the talk, but do you walk the walk?
We use this phrase with people when we think they're making a very bold claim
about something they actually can't back up.
So if I said to you, I could do 500 push-ups without breaking, without a sweat,
would you believe me or would you think that I was all talk?
Now, I know I have the appearance that I could, the physique,
but let me tell you, it's all appearance.
It's not a true reflection.
If you told me to get down and do 500 push-ups, I would fail,
and you'd find out really, really quickly that I was just simply all talk.
We consider those who are all talk and no action
as people who don't have much integrity.
They don't have the words to back up.
We see this quite commonly in the way we say to each other,
we say to those people, we come in contact with our friends
that we see from time to time, we should catch up for a coffee soon.
You ever say to someone, I've said this to plenty of people.
We say to them, we should catch up for a coffee soon,
but it never seems to happen.
We never seem to make the effort of actually organizing the time
to catch up and have coffee with these people.
And we've come to the point now where the words leave our mouth,
and we know, we know we're not going to hang out with these people.
We know we're not going to actually catch up with them.
But we just say it just because it feels rude not to say it.
We say it because we think it's a nice thing to do.
We talk the talk, but do we walk the walk?
That is the question on John's mind here in this letter as he writes
to his brothers and sisters.
His question is whether or not we Christians are living out our lives,
our calling to love each other.
And perhaps he makes the accusation that while we might be good
at talking the talk, while we might be good at talking about love,
we're not really good at actually loving.
We're not really good in walking in the way of love.
As Christians, we love to talk about love.
We'll always talk about how much God loves you, how much God loves us.
We talk about it on Facebook, sharing the Bible verses of that.
Talk about God's love.
From the platform, you might always hear people saying
that God just loves you, he wants to wrap you up in his love,
he wants to make you warm and dizzy in his love.
He wants the best for you.
He loves you so much.
Christians are good at talking about love.
But do we walk in the way of love?
We're constantly saying that we are going to be Jesus' hands and feet,
that we want to do things and to show our love practically.
But how much does that actually eventuate?
John's fear is that although we might retain the word love,
we've forgotten altogether what is at the core of our faith,
to love practically.
Verse 11,
For this is the message you have heard from the beginning,
we should love one another.
His fear is that they have forgotten that the heart of the Christian life
is love, and love not simply done in speech,
but action, modelled by Christ,
which we see in verse 18.
I'm sorry, verse 15.
16 even.
Jesus Christ laid down his life for us,
that we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
And so he concludes next section,
verse 18.
Dear children,
let us not love with words or speech,
but with action,
and in truth.
I wonder if John would fear the same for us today,
if you looked at our church.
Would he see us as a church who talks to talk and walks the walk,
or just as a church that just talks about love,
and doesn't walk in the way of love?
Have we forgotten in the midst of all our Christian talk,
to actually walk in the way of love?
We're in a series called Love Thy Neighbor,
in which we want to spend time reflecting on our cause of church
to love each other,
and to love those in the world around us,
in real, practical ways.
Meeting the felt needs of people,
those around us.
The poor, the hungry, the marginalized,
the sick, the needy, the vulnerable.
Showing them the powerful and wonderful,
restorative power of the gospel.
How the kingdom of God has come in,
ushered in through Jesus,
and how through him,
we can enjoy healing and new life now in this life.
We saw last week,
we are called to the task of practical love,
in meeting the needs of those who are vulnerable.
This week, we're going to explore
the fundamental characteristic of our calling,
that enables us,
and fuels us,
for this task.
Love.
Using this passage here,
in John's letter to these brothers and sisters,
we're going to unpack the character of Christian love,
by looking at what the experience,
and the existence of Christian love reveals,
and what the essence of Christian love is.
So I'm going to be asking those two questions,
about Christian love this morning.
And perhaps we ought to reflect,
if John's fear,
ought to be our fear as well.
Whether we are walking in the way of love,
or just simply talking about it.
So firstly,
the existence,
and experience of Christian love,
reveals new life,
and is itself,
driven towards life.
John begins by stating the message,
you heard from the beginning,
to love one another.
And then he straight away contrasted,
the call to love each other,
with the example of Cain,
who murdered his brother,
back in Genesis.
Safe to say,
he didn't love his brother,
but hated him.
If you remember the story,
back in Genesis,
the two brothers brought gifts to God,
Abel's gift was accepted,
but Cain's gift was rejected by God.
And the cause of Cain's murder,
the reason why he murdered his brother Abel,
wasn't because Abel had outdone him,
in a sense,
it was because Cain was jealous,
of Abel,
and resented him.
His feelings and actions towards Abel,
were evil.
Jealousy,
resentment,
and bitterness,
all brewed into hatred,
and eventually led,
to him killing his brother,
in an act of revenge,
and hatred.
Now,
why the reminder of such a story as this?
Pretty brutal and awful story.
Verse 13,
Don't be surprised,
my brothers and sisters,
if the world hates you.
John is making a point
that the world is not a place
where love is found naturally.
We don't need to venture very far
to know this is all too true.
Since almost the beginning of time,
as John points out,
hatred has been the dominating characteristic
of our world.
And hate has an inclination,
or propensity,
towards death.
As we see in the story of Cain,
the story of Cain has been played out again,
and again,
and again in our world.
Jealousy,
and bitterness,
leads to hate,
and hate leads to murder.
Death.
And although it doesn't always end in murder,
we see deaths of different kinds in our world.
Deaths of relationship,
deaths of friendships,
marriages,
and family breakdowns.
All result from this pattern of life
we see exemplifying Cain,
of jealousy,
bitterness,
and hatred.
And so the result being
a total disregard for life,
life for each other,
and life in general.
Where we can end up saying
to different people in our life,
you are dead to me.
But,
verse 14,
we know
that we have passed from death to life
because we love each other.
The difference for the Christian
is that he no longer lives
according to the pattern
of Cain,
which is to be under the influence
of sin and death.
Instead,
Christians,
by the power of the gospel,
have been made alive again.
They have passed from death
to life.
And the foundational evidence
of this new life is what?
Love.
The profound difference
between the world
and the Christian
is one
that has an inclination
towards hate
and therefore death,
whilst the other
has an inclination
towards love
and therefore life.
Christian love
reveals
and is evidence
of
new life
given to us
by Christ.
Because love
is driven
as a propensity
for life.
To explain
what I mean,
think about those people
in your life,
your friends
or family,
co-workers,
who contribute
to your life
in such ways
that gives you joy
because of their love
for you.
They're the kinds
of people
who are always there
for you
when things aren't good
because they love you.
When you say
let's catch up
for coffee,
they will organise it
because they want
to be with you.
When we're down
an ounce,
miserable,
depressed and hurt,
it can be the words
of a friend
that revitalise
our soul.
When we are sick
and unwell,
it can be the service
of a friend
making us meals,
doing the dishes,
doing the groceries
that can make us
or make our bodies
feel strong again,
make our hearts glad.
It can be the phone call,
the visit,
the offer to help,
the active encouragement
in walking alongside us
in grief
that can regenerate us
and give us life
once more.
This is what I mean
when I say love
has a propensity
towards life.
Love allows
for the enabling,
the flourishing,
sustaining of life
in relationship
that human beings
so desperately want.
Indeed,
that's its purpose,
to give
and to allow
for life
to happen.
Hate,
as characterised
by Cain,
does the opposite
and has propensity
and an inclination
towards death.
Whether it's murder
or toxic relationships
where love
is talked about
but never acted upon,
the hatred we see
in our world
reveals that it's
under the influence
on reign
of sin
and death,
one which is
unescapable.
but the great hope
for our world
is that life
has broken in
and it overpowered
the reign
of death
that has been
since Cain.
And since,
as Christians,
we love each other,
we're able to love
those in our world
who need it.
For Cain's hatred
of Abel
led him
to take life
and that has been
the pattern
of the world
since.
God,
who is rich in love,
sent his one
and only Son
into the world
of death
that whoever
may believe in him
may not perish,
may not face death,
but what?
Have eternal life.
There is more
at stake here
than just simply
talking to talk
and walking the walk,
isn't there?
The existence
and experience
of Christian love
isn't simply
a matter of
Christian integrity.
It's a matter
of life
and death.
Verse 14 again,
we know that we
have passed
from death
to life
because we
love each other.
Anyone who
does not love
remains in death.
Anyone who hates
a brother or sister
is a murderer
and you know
that no murderer
has eternal life
residing in him.
Christian love
proves you have
been made alive again,
that you have
crossed over
from death
to life.
It's the result
and overflowing
of faith
in Christ.
Hate isn't.
Hate is a
dangerous emotion
for a Christian
to have,
especially
for his own
brother or sister.
It's contradictory
to the gospel,
to the work of God
that has happened
in us.
It belongs
in the realm
of sin and death
in the world
as exemplified
by Cain himself.
If you have hate
in your heart,
you may need
to reflect
upon whether
you are following
in the pattern
of Cain
or even in the
pattern of Christ.
perhaps you need
to reflect
and pray
and discuss
with the person
who is the object
of your hate
or your resentment
and seek
reconciliation
and forgiveness.
It's not something
we should be afraid
of doing though.
For the ministry
of reconciliation
is one that's
fueled by love
and ushering
in life.
Indeed,
reconciliation
of relationships
is where we begin
to see the impact
of the gospel
in our life,
where we see life
beginning to come in
and bring us
back together.
For hate
leads to death,
but love
showing in reconciliation
and forgiveness
leads to life.
The existence
of love
and experience
is the evidence
of new life
in Christ
because love
in its foundational
working
has a propensity
and inclination
towards life.
Love is all
about ushering
in,
sustaining
and allowing
life to flourish,
whereas hate
leads towards
taking life away.
And this leads
to my second point.
Seeing that existence
and experience
of love
is new life.
The essence
of love
is seen
in sacrificial
life-giving
actions
that transcend
worldly comprehension.
That should be
on the screen.
It's a big,
big sentence.
Just to recap,
the basic point
I wanted to make
was love
is for life.
Just as a hat
is for the head,
a chair
is for sitting,
Jimmy
is for Katie
and McDonald's,
love
is for life.
Love's proper
goal
and purpose
is to enable
and usher in
life.
Now I want
to articulate
the essence
of this love
that is to show
what it looks like
in the real world.
And as I've said,
I think its essence
is sacrificial
life-giving action
which ultimately
transcends
worldly comprehension.
Verse 16,
this is how we know
what love is.
Jesus Christ
laid down
his life for us
and we ought to
lay down our lives
for our brothers
and sisters.
John 7 verse 11,
what is fundamental
to the gospel,
namely love.
And here in verse 16
he now says
how we know
what love is.
Jesus Christ
laid down
his life
for us.
Just take that in.
That is love.
The example
set before us
is Jesus Christ
himself
who loved us
by giving up
his own life.
Jesus' sacrifice
ushered in
new life for us.
He was driven
by love
and he gave up
his own life
that we might
pass from death
to life ourselves
and enjoy
eternal life
with him.
His sacrifice
was a life-giving
action.
This is what life is.
And according to John,
this is love,
the love that we
ourselves should walk
in and we ought
to lay down
our lives
for our brothers
and sisters.
Have a look
at each other
in this room.
Would you be willing
to die
for the person
sitting next to you
or behind you?
And some of you
might be thinking,
define
what it is
to lay down
your life.
Tell me
what it is.
Sounds familiar,
doesn't it?
That question.
Such a call,
such a question
makes us
want to ask
that question
like the expert
in the law
in Luke 10
who asked Jesus,
who is my neighbour?
But let us not
cheapen love.
Let us not
lower the bar.
Sacrificial,
life-giving action
is the bar
that Christian love
sets.
It's the pattern
we are to follow in.
This
gives
or ought to
give more weight
to our words
when we say
I love you.
When we say
I love you,
what we're saying
is I am willing
to sacrifice
my life for you
that you might
have life
to give up
the most precious
possession
that we have,
life,
so that others
might keep it
and enjoy it
and flourish in it.
It implies
so much more
than just simple
talk from the
front here in church
that we might
often hear
how much we
just love you
and we want
to be part
of everything
and God
loves you so much
once you feel
so warm and
dizzy.
No,
it's so much
more than that.
It's a love
that's willing
to get down
the dirt
sacrificially
to the point
of which you're
willing to give
up your own
life.
We are so
transformed
by the gospel
that it gives
us new life
that we love
in such a way
that we're
willing to
give it up
again
for the sake
of preserving
another's life
in order that
they might
experience the
kingdom of God
which is life
that is invaded
into our present
age through
Jesus Christ.
it shows
our world
who cannot
comprehend
such love
that we are
under the
reign and
the rule
of someone
far greater
than the world
for whilst
they might
fear death
existing in
the world
that has
propensity
towards it
we are those
who do not
fear death
willing to
embrace it
because we
belong to
the kingdom
of heaven
which is
eternal life
and we're
willing to
lay down
our lives
that others
might see
that and
know that
that we've
come under
the lordship
of Jesus
who is
eternal
life
we lay
it down
knowing
full well
that we'll
be brought
back up
again
when God's
kingdom
of eternal
life is
established
in its
fullness
forever
that's the
call
it's a
big call
that's the
love we
should have
for each
other
and whilst
not all
of us
here will
have the
opportunity
to give
up our
life for
each other
we're
nonetheless
called to
love with
such an
attitude
to love
wanting to
love in a
way that's
sacrificially
giving
but also
gives life
as well
verse 17
if anyone
has material
possessions
and sees a
brother or
sister in
need but
has no
pity on
them how
can the
love of
God be
in that
person
the
willingness
to lay
down one's
life is
the bar
that Christian
love sets
but it's
also the
attitude
and the
character
of Christian
love in
general
when one
begins to
follow in the
pattern of
Christ a
transformation
takes place
they see
life and
love differently
instead of
seeing our
possessions as
ours to
indulge in
or our
times ours to
use to see
fit or our
money as ours to
spend on whatever
we want the
love of God in
Christ Jesus
changes that for
us it changed
the disposition
in us to
see life as
all about
sacrificial
life giving
material possessions
that aren't as
something for us
to indulge in
but something for
us to give up
that others might
have and enjoy
life
and so when
John says
if anyone has
material possessions
and says a
brother or sister
are in need
but has no
pity on them
he's saying that
that's a
contradiction
that exists
between what you
confess and
how you act
you talk the
talk but do
you walk the
walk
you do as the
priest and the
Levite do in
Luke 10
and walk on
by
those two
people who
exemplify what
it is to know
God apparently
who are supposed
to look after
God's people
who are supposed
to show compassion
and mercy
these people who
we expected to
help they walk
on by
is that us
he concludes
about such
people how
can the love
of God be
in them
when we don't
have pity
on those who
are in need
around us
we show a
complete
disregard
for life
and instead
we serve them
up death
by our
ignorance
by ignoring
them
this is no
doubt
challenging
I feel
the weight
of what I'm
saying right
now
and it's
not easy
to do
this
there are
many
difficulties
today
when it
comes to
helping the
poor and
the sick
the vulnerable
the need
the homeless
it's not
black and
white
but where we
have the means
to help
we must
because as
Christians
we have been
given new
life
and the
pattern of
love to
follow in
which means
we have
such a
great
privilege
to love
people
through
sacrificial
life giving
actions
and by giving
life and
healing to
those under
the reign of
death
we bring
them into
the experience
of God's
kingdom
which is
eternal life
don't we
want this
for those
who don't
know Jesus
don't we
want to
bring them
out of
the kingdom
of darkness
or the
kingdom
of death
so that
they can
enjoy
knowing God
and being
in relationship
with him
and also
enjoy the
benefits
of being
in his
kingdom
where his
people love
in a
sacrificial
way
when they're
hungry
his people
feed them
when they're
naked
his people
clothe them
when they're
in financial
trouble
God's
people get
money together
and support
them
all these
things are
experiences of
new life
kingdom life
which God
has ushered
in beginning
with Jesus
and we see
the awful
effect of sin
and death on
people around
us in our
world
are we not
moved
like the
Samaritan who
saw the man
lying half
dead and
robbed
do we not
take pity
throughout all
of Jesus'
ministry
in his life
he brought
life
to those
he encountered
we see that
Jesus healed
the sick
he made
the blind
see
he rose
the literal
dead from
the grave
the lame
walk
his love
in action
brought life
showing that
his kingdom
was coming
in and
breaking into
the world
of sin
and death
which is
being pushed
out by the
kingdom of
God
which is
eternal life
Jesus
ultimately
loved us
sacrificially
by giving up
his own
life
that we
might be
able to
partake in
this kingdom
kingdom of
life
and invite
others
to do so
and to
experience the
same thing
as we
encounter the
poor and
help them
as we
feed those
who are
hungry
as we
take in
those who
are outcasted
and marginalised
we give them
an experience
of the kingdom
of God
it's not
going to be
perfect of
course
we're still
looking forward
to that
perfect day
when things
will be
made right
and new
but as we
take these
people in
as we
show the
love of
God to
them
by feeding
them
not just
by talking
to them
by giving
them clothes
and money
by helping
them
restoring
their life
we give
them a
glimpse
a shadow
of what
is to
come for
them
in Jesus
when he
returns
as we
encounter
these
people
we have
a
wonderful
privilege
to give
them life
as we
love them
by meeting
their needs
as we
take pity
and use
what God
has given
us
to help
meet their
needs
but it
starts
with our
attitude
of love
our desire
to love
sacrificially
performing
life
giving
actions
to a
world
who
needs
it
so
will we
walk
in the
way of
love
not
just
talk
about
it
let me
leave you
with John's
words
in verse
18
dear
children
let us
not love
with words
or speech
but with
actions
and truth
men
as